Hydraulic torque cylinder



Aug. 3, 1965 w. w. MCMULLEN ETAL 3,198,539

HYDRAULIC TORQUE CYLINDER Filed July 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l A11g- 3, 1965 w. w. MCMULLEN ETAL 3,198,539

HYDRAULIC TORQUE CYLINDER Filed July 1'?, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ME @Zay/naw# United States Patent O 3,193,539 HYBRAULHC TRQUE CYLINDER Wayne W. McMullen, 1062 67th St., and Leo S. Goulden, 1995 67th St., both of Des Moines, Iowa Filed .lilly 17, 1962, Ser. No. 210,376 9 Claims. (Cl. Ril-43.17)

Creating torque through the linear displacement of a power component has been used in various equipment in the eld of mechanics heretofore. Thus is the principle of the rack and pinion. However, these devices are generally cumbersome to operate and do not provide a high mechanical eticiency.

Therefore, the principal object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which can impart torque to a related shaft by the linear displacement of a piston and rod within the cylinder.

A further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which has a high mechanical eliiciency.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which can simultaneously irnpart torque to shafts mounted within opposite ends of the cylinder.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which can simultaneously impart torque to shafts mounted within opposite ends of the cylinder wherein the shafts will turn in opposite directions.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which can simultaneously impart torque to shafts mounted within opposite ends of the cylinder wherein the shafts will turn at different speeds in opposite directions.

A stili further object ot our invention is to provide a iydraulic torque cylinder which can be secured to a vehicle having crank shaft wheel supporting ame elements whereby the rotation of the crank shaft elements will result in vertical displacement of the vehicle.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which is self-locking.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a hydraulic torque cylinder which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the Various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

FGURE l is a longitudinal sectional View of our device when the piston and piston rod are half way between their positions of maximum displacement in two opposite directions;

FiGUlE 2 is a sectional view of our device which is taken at right angles to the sectional view in FIGURE l;

FG RE 3 is a rearward elevational view of our device mounted on a vehicle having crankshaft-type axles;

FIGUREA shows two side elevational views of the vehicle shown in FGURE 3; one view showing the vehicle in an elevated position, and the other view showing the vehicle in a lowered condition;

FlGURE 5 is a perspectiveview of a different form of our device;

FUURE 6 is a schematic view showing the interrelated coninonents or" one end of our cylinder device; and

FlGURE 7 is a schematic view of the hydraulic circuitry which controls our cylinder device.

We have used the numeral 16 to generally designate a hollow center cylinder which has its opposite ends jour- ICC naled in cylindrically shaped casings 12 and 1d. Cylinder 1t? is secured to casings l2 and 1li by weldrnents 16. The outer ends of casings 12 and 1d terminate in Shoulders 1S which have center openings 2i? and 22, respectively. As shown in FIGURE 3, brackets 24 extend from the outer ends of casings l2 and t4 to eect a rigid connection to the bottom ot horizontal vehicle frame 26 by means of bolts 28.

An inner cylindrical casing Si) is positioned within casing 14. A bearing 34 is rigidly positioned in either end of cylinder 14B and a collar 36 extends outwardly therefrom to terminate adjacent the inner ends of each of the vinner casings 3G and 32. A weldrnent 33 rigidly secures the bearings 34 to the cylinder 1%. Sealing rings 40 in the outer periphery of bearings 34 serve to seal thev interior of cylinder lll. A conventional thrust bearing i2 comprised or bearing ring 44 and outwardly extending collar 46 is movabiy mounted within the collar 35 of each ot the bearings 34. Collars 1:-6 are received within the inner ends of casings Sil and 32 and are welded to these casings as shown in FGURES l and 2. Stud shafts 4S are rigidly secured to and extend outwardly from the outer ends of casings 3@ and 32 and are received in the center bores Sti of shafts or axles 52 and 5d which have their inner ends rotatably mounted in center openings and 22. of casings 12 and 14, respectively. Pins 56 extend through each of the respective pairs of stud shafts and axles to effect this rigid connection therebetween. A thrust bearing 5S separates the inner surface of the outer ends of outer casings 12 and 1d from the outer ends of inner casings Sil and 32, respectively.

As shown in FGURE l, conduits d@ and 62 appear in bearings 3d at the ends of cylinder l and terminate in ports 6d and 66, respectively. A piston d is slidably mounted within cylinder 1? and rods 7% and 72 extend outwardly from opposite sides thereof. Rods 'fil and '72 extend through the bearings 34 and thrust bearings 4Z on opposite ends of cylinder itl, and thence into the iuteriors of inner. casings 30 and 32, respectively. A sealing ring 74 on the periphery of the center bore 76 in bearings 34 serve to seal the interior of the cylinder its. Pins or shafts 7S and extend transversely through the opposite ends of rods 7'2 and 74, respectively. Pins 7S and Si) dwell in the same plane with each other. Pairs of straight horizontal elongated slots d2 appear in outer casing 12 and a similar pair of slots S4 appear in casing 1d. Slots g2 are in alignment with slots d4. Pairs of oppositely disposed spiraliy shaped arcuate slots S6 appear in inner casing 3i) and a similar pair of slots 38 appear in inner casing The ends of pin '7E are received within pairs of slots 32 and $6 in casings Sil and 32, respectively, and roller hearings @il on pin 78 movably engage these pairs of slots. Similarly, the ends of pin @il are received within the pairs of slots 84 and Sd, and roller bearings 92 on pin @il inovably engage these pairs of slots. The center axis ofv arcuate slots de and 38 follow a uniform spiral except at the extreme ends thereof wherein `the spiral axis is reversed to terminate in arcuate notches 94 which are adapted to receive the roller bearings 9i) or 92 at times. The slots S6 and S8 extend Aapproximately one-fourth of the way around the respective inner casings 3i) and 32.

As shown in FIGURES 3, 6 and 7, axles 52 and S4 are comprised of a first horizontal portion $6, a center vertical portion 98, and a second horizontal portion lttl wherein the L-shape of one end of a conventional crankshaft is created. Wheels 192 can be secured in conventional fashion to the outer ends of the second horizontal portions 1% of axles 52 and 54. Brackets `19d can embrace the rst horizontal portions 96 of the axles to ellect the connection of the axles to frame 26.

Conduits 106 and 1% are connected in conventional fashion to ports 64 and 66, respectively, of cylinder ,10, Iand each of these conduits terminate in valve 110 which is capable of directing the tlow of hydraulic pressure into one conduit and receiving a discharge of iiuid therethrough from the other conduit. The neutral position of the valve shown in FIGURE 7 prevents the ilow of uid in either direction through thevalve. 114- connect valve 11% with pump 116 and reservoir 118, respectively, .and .conduit 120 interconnects 'the pump and the reservoir.

We have shown a diierent form of our invention in FIGURE 5. All components in this figure are similar to the above described device except for the arcuate slot in inner `casing 32 whose counterpart is designated 32A in this igure. its spiral axis reversed with respect to slot 86 in casing Sti. Also, the length and pitch of slot 83A is slightly greater than that of slot 86. As will be described hereafter, this will serve to cause one shaft to rotate at a dilterent speed than the other shaft. It will be noted that the transverse pins 7S and SG in FIGURE 5 have been positioned substantially apart although this requirement can be varied as the length and pitch of slot 88A is varied. The straight slots S2 and 84 must also be positioned accordingly to accommodate this new position of pins 78 and 39.

The normal operation of our device is as follows: With the piston 8S in the position shown in FIGURES l and 2, the valve 11? can be actuated to permit the pump 116 to force fluid through conduits 112 and `1116 into port 64 and conduit 69 of cylinder 10. Fluid on the other side of piston 68 will then be forced out of conduit 62 and port 66, thence into conduit 108 and valve 110, and thence through conduit 114 into reservoir 11S.

This movement of fluid will cause piston 68 to move to the left as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2. The rods 70 and 72 normally `move longitudinally with piston 68 as dictated by the extension of pins 78 and 80 in straight slots 82 and 84, which are located in the rigidly secured casings 12 and 14. However, the rectilinear movement of piston 68, rods 70 and 72, and transverse pins 78 and 80 is resisted by the engagement of the roller bearings 9) and 92 in the arcuate slots 8o and S8, respectively, in the inner casings. The rectilinear movement of the above described components causes the transverse pins 78 and Si) to exert a rotational force on arcuate slots of the inner casings 39 and 32, respectively, as these casings are rotated to permit the rectilinear movement of the pins 7S and 3) to continue. Thus, the pins 7S and 89 induce rotation of the inner casings 359 and 32, respectively, through the rotational force exerted at the arcuate slots thereon by the rectilinear movement of the pins within the arcuate slots. The inner casings must rotate to `permit the rectilinear movement of the pins through the arcuate slots in the inner casings, The axles 52 and 54 which are rigidly secured to casings 30 and 32, respectively, will reect this rotational movement and rotate therewith. Thus, if the vehicle frame 26 were in an elevated position similar to that of the left-hand view in FIGURE 4, it will be lowered to the lower elevation shown inthe right hand view in this figure. A reversal of the movement of fluid as described above by valve 110 would obviously reverse this phenomenon. The two views in FIGURE 4 depict the extreme positions of elevation created by the device in FIGURES l and 2.

As the roller bearings 90 and 92 move into the lock- `ing slots 94 at Athe ends of the arcuate slots 86 and 8S,

the weight imposed upon the axles 52 and 54 is imparted to the inner c-asings 30 and 32, and to the outer casings 12 and 14, which serves to relieve the entire support of the load from the hydraulic system. The roller bearings 9i) and 92 will stay in the arcuate shaped locking notches 94 until removed therefrom by a reverse flow of luid under pressure being exerted against piston 68. The

The arcuate slot SSA in casing 32A has Conduits 112 and Y shape of the notches 94 `is complementary to that of the roller bea-rings and 92.

The device shown in FIGURE 5 operates similarly to the above described unit, except the reversal of the arcuate slot 88A causes the axles 52 and54 to rotate in opposite directions. This phenomenon would have many applications, and could serve to lower one side of frame 26 and raise the other to create a leveling eiect if the frame were supponted on sloping terrain. The variance in the length, slope, or pitch of slot 38A as compared to that of slot 86 Iwill :cause axles 54 to -turn lat a different speed than that of axle 52. This phenomenon has many applications in the elds of automation.

`It 1is seen that by varying the length, slope or pitch of the arcuate slots S6 and 88, and changing the positions of pins 78 and 80, and straight slots 82 and 84, innumerable combinations of .relative movement between axles 52 and 54 can ybe created. Thus, our device is seen to accomplish at least all of its 'stated objectives.

Some `changes may be made Lin the construction and arrangement of our hydraulic torque cylinder without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention, and i-t lis our intention to cover by our claims, any modiiiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents :which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a hydraulic torque cylinder,

an elongated cylinder,

an outer hollow casing secured to the end of said cylinder,

an inner hollow casing movably mounted for rotation about its own longitudinal axis within said outer casing,

a shaft means extending through said outer casing and `being rigidly lsecured to said inner casing,

at least one straight slot in said outer casing,

Ian .arcuate slot disposed on a spiral axis in said inner casing,

a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder,

a rod protruding from said piston into the interior of said inner and outer casings, a pin extending transversely from said rod and extending into the slots in said inner and outer casings.

means for connecting said cylinder to a source of hydraulic power to reciprocate said piston and rod therein at times wherein the reciprocal movement of'said rod and the pin secured thereto will impart rela-tive rotational movement between said inner Land outer casings,

and said arcuate slot is `formed with an arcuate locking notch at its ends to retain at times the ends of the pin that extends transversely from said rod.

2. In a hydraulic torque cylinder,

an elongated cylinder,

rst and second hollow outer casings secured to the opposite ends of said cylinder,

inner hollow casings movably mounted for rotation about their own respective axes within each of said outer casings,

shaft means extending through each of said outer casings and being rigidly secured to one each of said inner caslngs,

straight slots in said outer casings,

arcuate slots disposed on a spiral axis in said `inner casings,

a piston slidably mounted on said cylinder,

rods protruding from said piston into the interior of said inner and outer casings on opposite ends of said cylinder, pins extending transversely from said rods and extending into the slots in said inner and outer casings, and means for connecting said cylinder to a source of hydraulic power to reciprocate said piston and rods therein at times wherein the reciprocal movement of said rods Aand the pins secured thereto will impart relative rotational movement between the inner and louter casings on the opposite ends of said cylinder.

3. The structure of vclaim 2 wherein bracket means are secured to said outer casings and are adapted to secure said `casiugs to la frame or the like to hold said casings against movement.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said straight and arcuate slots appear in pairs on the respective casin'gs in ywhich they appear.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein `an ancuate locking notch is loca-ted at the ends of said -arcuate notches to retain at times the ends of the pins that extend transversely from said rods.

6. In combination, a vehicle having a frame, axles comprised of a rst horizontal portion, a center straight portion, and .thence -a second horizontal portion, wheel units on said second horizontal portions, means rotatably securing said iirst horizontal portions to said frame with the longitudinal axes thereof extending in the same direction, and a hydraulic torque cylinder, comprising,

an elongated cylinder,

first and second hollow Aouter casings secured to the opposite ends of said cylinder, and said outer casings having straight slots,

inner hollow leasings Inova-bly mounted for rotation about their own respective axes within each of said outer casings, and said inner sas'ings having therein arcuate slots disposed on a spiral axis,

said first horizontal portions 'of said -axles extending through each of said outer :casings and being rigidly secured to one each of said inner casings,

a piston slidalbly mounted on said cylinder,

rods protruding from said piston into the interior of said inner and `outer casings on opposite ends of said cylinder,

pins extending transversely from said rods and extending into the slots in said inner yand outer casings,

means rigidly securing said outer 'casi-ngs to said frame,

a source of hydraulic poWeron said frame,

conduits connecting said source of hydraulic power to said cylinder ion opposite sides to said piston,

a vaive imposed in one of said conduits Iand being adapted to direct the iiow of fluid into and out |of said cylinder to move said piston and said rods to impair-t rotational'rnotion to said inner casings and said axles.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein an arcuate locking 20 define the same llongitudinal axes.

9. The structure of claim 6 --wherein said arcuate slots define different longitudinal axes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/43 DArcey 121-119 2/63 Vickery 121-119 X FOREIGN PATENTS 881,098 1l/61 Great Britain.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

PHILIP ARNOLD, Examiner. 

1. IN A HYDRAULIC TORQUE CYLINDER, AN ELONGATED CYLINDER AN OUTER HOLLOW CASING SECURED TO THE END OF SAID CYLINDER, AN INNER HOLLOW CASING MOVABLY MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS OWN LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITHIN SAID OUTER CASING, A SHAFT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OUTER CASING AND BEING RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID INNER CASING, AT LEAST ONE STRAIGHT SLOT IN SAID OUTER CASING, AN ARCUATE SLOT DISPOSED ON A SPIRAL AXIS IN SAID INNER CASING, A PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CYLINDER, A ROD PROTRUDING FROM SAID PISTON INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID INNER AND OUTER CASINGS, A PIN EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID ROD AND EXTENDING INTO THE SLOTS IN SAID INNER AND OUTER CASINGS. MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID CYLINDER TO A SOURCE OF HYDRAULIC POWER TO RECIPROCATE SAID PISTON AND ROD THEREIN AT TIMES WHEREIN THE RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD AND THE PIN SECURED THERETO WILL IMPART RELATIVE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER CASINGS, AND SAID ARCUATE SLOT IS FORMED WITH AN ARCUATE LOCKING NOTCH AT ITS ENDS TO RETAIN AT TIMES THE END OF THE PIN THAT EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID ROD. 